Common Council back NY Health Act

City lawmakers have added their support to a proposed state act that would create a single-payer health care system for all New York residents.

During a meeting last week, the Common Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the state Legislature to adopt, and the governor to sign, the proposed New York Health Act.

Several members of the council shared personal anecdotes about the importance of health care in their own lives, while several members of the public expressed their own support for the state act.

“In this country, we do not have a health care system,” Jess Robie, a registered nurse who works at HealthAlliance Hospital on Broadway, told the council. “We have an insurance system.”

Robie said there are a lot of wonderful people working to provide health care in that context and there is not a single shift she works at the hospital during which she does not see a team of people argue with health insurance companies over the care of their patients. Robie said she appreciated the council considering support for the New York Health Act.

The city resolution states New York residents have experienced a rapid rise in health care costs in recent years, which has resulted in a large number of uninsured or significantly underinsured people. It also states that health care providers who care for patients regardless of their ability to pay now experience substantial financial difficulties due to treating the uninsured and underinsured. Patients and health care professionals also are sometimes pushed into medical care decisions based on insurance, rather than the best course of treatment, the resolution states.

The resolution states the New York Health Act would create a comprehensive program of high-quality health care coverage for all residents, regardless of age, income, wealth, employment or other status. It would be publicly funded, and there would be no premiums, deductibles or co-payments, the resolution states. The resolution also states the plan would drastically increase access to health care and improve health outcomes.

Alderwoman Rita Worthington, D-Ward 4, was one of those who shared a personal story. She said her husband needed a heart transplant three years ago but was fortunate to have good health insurance at the time. Now, though, they have another health insurance company that is “not that great,” Worthington said. She said the couple has $1,200 a month in prescription costs and her husband will need medical treatment for the rest of his life.

Worthington said universal health care is long overdue.

“Universal health care should be a right for all people,” she said.